The estimated resident population of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) at 30 June 2002 was 321,800 people, an increase of 2,500 from June 2001.

POPULATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY, 30 June

The ACT's population grew by 0.8% in the period from June 2001 to June 2002. This growth was less than the increase of 1.3% experienced between June 2000 and June 2001, which was the highest recorded since 1992-93. This compared to a national growth rate of 1.3% during the period June 2001 to June 2002. At June 2002 the population of the ACT made up 1.6% of Australia's population.

The Statistical Subdivision (SSD) of Gungahlin–Hall experienced a population increase of 6% between 2001 and 2002. This was the fastest population growth for all SSDs in the ACT. The Statistical Local Areas (SLA) of Dunlop (26%), Barton and Amaroo (each 22%) experienced the fastest population growth for all SLAs in the ACT over the same period.

ANNUAL POPULATION CHANGE, 30 June

AGE AND SEX STRUCTURE

At June 2002 there were 97.3 males for every 100 females in the ACT, compared to98.4 males for every 100 femalesin Australia.

The population of the ACT is younger than the total Australian population. At June 2002, the median age of the ACT population (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) was 33.5 years, compared to a national median age of 35.9 years.

Within the ACT, SSDs of Gungahlin–Hall and Tuggeranong had the youngest populations, with median ages of 30.1 years and 31.5 years respectively, followed by Belconnen (33.0years) and North Canberra (33.3years). South Canberra (38.4 years), Woden Valley and Weston Creek–Stromlo (each 38.9 years) had the highest median ages.

The ACT has lower proportions of people at all ages over 55 years than Australia, but higher proportions of people aged between 10 and 55 years. The proportions of young adults (aged between 18 to 26 years) in the ACT are particularly high compared to Australia, reflecting the number of people in this age group who move to Canberra to undertake tertiary education or employment.

AGE STRUCTURE OF THE POPULATION–ACT and Australia, 2002

Population under 15 years

The population aged under 15 years was 64,900 (20% of the population of the ACT) at June 2002. Over a quarter (26%) of the population of Tuggeranong SSD was aged under 15 years. In the Tuggeranong SLAs of Conder, Theodore, Gilmore and Banks, this proportion was around 30%. Gungahlin–Hall SSD (25%) also recorded a high proportion of children aged under 15 years.

Population 15 to 24 years

The population aged 15 to 24 years was 52,200 (16% of the population of the ACT) at June 2002. The highest proportion of people in this age group was in North Canberra SSD (21%), followed by Belconnen SSD (18%). The SLAs with the highest proportion of people aged 15 to 24 were those with large student populations, in particular Acton (80%), with the Australian National University, and Duntroon (69%), with the Australian Defence Force Academy.

Population 65 years and over

The population aged 65 years and over was 28,200 (9% of the population of the ACT) at June 2002. The highest proportions of people aged 65 years and over were in the SSDs of South Canberra (15%), Woden Valley (14%) and North Canberra (13%). Over one fifth of the population of the SLA of Deakin, in the inner south, were aged 65 years and over.

POPULATION AGEING

Consistent with the national trend, the population of the ACT is continuing to age. The median age of the ACT population (33.5 years) has increased 0.2 years since 2001, 3.7 years since 1992 and 6.3 years since 1982. By comparison the median age of the Australian population has increased 6.0 years since 1982.

Over the last three decades the ACT has experienced a steady decline in the proportion of the population aged under 15 years and a steady increase in the proportion aged 65 years and over. Since 1992 the number of children aged under 15 years has decreased by 5% (from 68,300 to 64,900), while the population aged 65 years and over has increased by 49% (from 18,900 to 28,200), and the population aged 85 years and over has more than doubled (from 1,200 to 2,700).

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